The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-06-18

/ anu then dashes.aW8y.
An hour has passed. Nina has rejoinetl
Mrs. Danforth anil her guest, and they are
out upon the porch that rommandsa view
of the road, watchingsearnestlytfo there
turning lhorseman, 'fortlie storm clouds are
onoe more lowering ominiously, Und the
thunder and lightning increasing every mo-
medt.
Presently far down the road theyicatch
THE sound of approaching is5f-beats, and a
moment later Royal comes in view, rein
ling In his e1;1ited horse with all his
strength.
a low ejaculation of relief bursts simul-
taneously from the lips of the three watch
Fors; but it 10 changed at the next instant te
cry of horror and alarm.
! A deafening thunder crash is followed
almost Immediately by "a vivid sheet of
Aigltning, which giiIakes the very mir seem,
on fire fora moment.
The frantic horse reNrs, plunges, chen
gives one final luFch forward, throwing his
rider with hlterriflc forces 40 the ground, and
rolled beside :him---dcHd
How they accomplished It. none Of the
lexcited women can ever clearly remember,
but fifteen minutes after that accident, Roy
Danforth,t < pale, cold, and insensible, wibk
one arm broken, has been carried into the
house and nleeed 'apon bed,
| "What shall we do for the doctorp'
moans Mrs. Danforth, wringing her hands
wildly. "IIe lives across the river. and
There is no way to get to him. The bridge
here is gone. every boat swept away, and
over four miles to the next bridge, a mile
even to the nearest neighbor! Must my boy
die before help can reach him?'
A small, trembling hand fells on her
arm. &ina's dark face, aiYlost itransfigured
by its look Of dauntless courage, meets her
gaze.
''Be conffortca." she Brsnrnurs i'm low,
/ repressed tone. II will go-wiil bring the
help he needs. lie shall not dier'
/ 'Brtt how-how?" gasps Mrs. Danforth,
wlaf!e Helene, knesfing besile the bed,
l raises aies pale, anguished face in incredul-
Gus surprise. ''Night has already fafEell,
and"
do not detain IAeg" repeats the resolute
girl. 81 wil save him or give my life for
his" and Before they can question further
l she has gided out of the room.
Hurrying to her OWE room, Nina 1sakes
some alterations in her costume, winds
shawl around her shoulders, knotting 1t
across her breast, leaying her arms free;
then drawing ON sInafi, ciose-fitting cap,
ieaves the house and takes her way dow II
to the river bank.
81 cannot give him my love, it is forbid
.kden now. | can give him my lfe!' she
murmurs. ''It is five miles by the road to
She next bridge. and five back from there
TO the doctors house, and every moment of
delay adding to his danger. l can swim
the river in less time than 10 by the road,
-and it is only my life foS ASs. will do it
will save him for her, for what would
! life be worth to her without him if she loves
him as l do?"
Looking across the wide stretch of rush
ing waters, she pauses fer a snornent with
"A shudder She is no stranger to the art Of
swimming, but she has neser attempted q
feat like this.
Can she gain the opposite shore through
i this storm alive?
With prayer on her lips, shs plunges
boldly in. The storm nlutters, the thunder
rolls, the rain beats in her face. the waves
make toy Of her slender figure; but with
undaunted purpose she struggles on, defy
4 ing danger. courting almost certain death,
until the other shore is reached. and she
climbs np the bank.
Jnst back from the riverside stands the
doctors hOase.
Struggling to her feet, Nina totters on,
weak, painting, chilled to the very bone,
until the house is reached, her story gasped
forth, and then she falls across the thresh-
old in dead swoon.
81 have boat, happily, saved from the
wreck that will take me oYcr-I dare not
risk the time to drive round by the road,''
the doctor is saying, whea she RECEIVERS
consciousness. ''As for the brave girl, she
must stay"
"Ho-no! / must go back with Your'
pants Nina, struggling to an upright po-
sitlOn. ~ can help row--do anything
but l must 90 back-the suspense, the
separation will drive me Wild"
Come, them" says the doctor, extend
lug his hand, 81: will harm you less than
to oppose you at this crisis"
| An1 fau, ,aon,anfs Lat tha., ra saatad
in the boat, pulling vigorously for the other
shore. Nina seeming once more epdued
with superhuman strength.
"Roy had not regained consciousness
when they reach the house. and the doctor
bends over him for some time ia grave, 81
lent scrutiny.
Then, with a look that iightens their
heavy hearts, be says:
F%It Is not too late to revive. and, trust
to restore him, but It soon would have
been. But for this girls intrepid act,
should not have got here in time. Every
moment was of priceless Yaluev'
Then, for the second lime during that
night of peril, Nina falnts. and is carried
from the room.
Several days pass
Roy, weak still. but slowly gaining, re-
clines in comfortable chair, while Nina,
who has brought him a refreshing meal,
and rendered him such assistance as his
wounded arm requires, has turned To leave
him, when. putting out his uninjured hand,
he draws her To him.
''Not yet, Nina" he says softly. 'You
must not leave Inc this time, until tell
you my seeret-the secret my heart has
been yearning so long TO lttsr-I love
your